Advertisement

The Lakeshore Garden Club of Lexington, with more than 100 members, and the Port Sanilac Garden Club's 29 members, had worked more than a year to raise funds for a special memorial honoring members of the armed forces, past and present.

With financial support from veterans groups, fraternal groups and scores of other public and private donors, money was raised to pay for and erect a Blue Star Memorial Marker at the M-25 rest stop south of Port Sanilac.

Similar markers can be seen on highways throughout the United States -- but this one would be the first in Michigan's Thumb.

Unfortunately, some thoughtless thieves aren't appreciating the groups' hard work.

Because flowers planted by the garden clubs around the new memorial are being stolen.

The pilferers aren't just picking the flowers.

"Whole plants are being yanked out and bare holes left, which to my mind is as bad as stealing flowers from someone's grave," said Chris Behn, of the Port Sanilac Garden Club. "It's just a shame when you try to do something nice to honor vets and people come along and steal from it."

The first theft took place the night before the marker's dedication, which was on Flag Day, Sat., June 14. Members of military, civic and charitable groups both local and statewide planned to attend the event.

Replacements were hastily gathered and planted to replace those lost.

The second theft took place some time during the week of July 20-26. As of yet, those haven't been replaced.

"We just pushed the mulch back and are making the best of it," Behn said. "It doesn't look like anything's been stolen, it just looks like 'Gee, someone didn't put many plants in here.'"

Members of both garden groups want to make it clear that the Michigan Department of Transportation does not pay for, nor does it maintain, the memorial or its landscaping. That is the responsibility of volunteers from their groups.

This summer, weeding and watering has fallen to members of the Port Sanilac club; next year, the Lakeshore Garden Club will take a turn.

Volunteers must carry jugs of water with them to the memorial site, as there are no hose hookups available.

The plant piracy isn't upsetting just the garden clubs.

"It's just disrespectful to veterans," said Marleen Reynolds, Commander of American Legion Post No. 255 in Croswell.

"People spend a lot of time putting a plan together, and a lot of work getting donations and getting everything done for it, and then someone does something like this. I was very upset when I heard about it."

Betty McEntee of the Lakeshore Garden Club, who chaired the Blue Star Memorial Committee and put more hours toward the project than anyone, said she doesn't know whether someone local is responsible, or whether the thieves are from outside the area.

She just wishes it would stop.

"The whole thing irritates me," she said.

She's considered contacting the Sanilac Sheriff Department in hopes that they can keep a more watchful eye on the memorial.

"I know they do the best they can. They are so short-staffed," she said.

Garden club members can replace the stolen plants with flowers from their own gardens.

"A lot we can replace without going out and buying them. I just hope we won't have to keep doing it," she said.